Civilian Immunity in War

Edited by Igor Primoratz

Eleven specially commissioned essays on an issue of pressing public concern

Reliable, informative, and thought-provoking treatment of the ethics and legality of war

Fills a gap in the scholarly literature

Excellent international line-up of contributors

Perspectives from philosophy, politics, law, and history

Civilian Immunity in War

Edited by Igor Primoratz

Description

The protection of noncombatants from deadly violence is the centrepiece of any account of ethical and legal constraints on war. It was a major achievement of moral progress from early modern times to World War I. Yet it has been under constant attrition since - perhaps never more so than in our time, with its 'new wars', the spectre of weapons of mass destruction, and the global terrorism alert.

Civilian Immunity in War, written in collaboration by eleven authors, provides the first comprehensive analysis of all main aspects of this highly topical subject. It considers the arguments for rejection of civilian immunity and the main theories of the grounds and proper scope of this immunity, both deontological (just war theory) and consequentialist.
Separate chapters examine the historical development of the idea of civilian immunity, its standing in current international law, and the problem of "collateral damage": of harming civilians without intent, as a side-effect of attacks on military targets. The volume also addresses a string of specific issues. Civilian immunity has undergone much attrition with the development of air warfare and the tendency of military conflict to degenerate into "total" war. On the other hand, modern military technology with its precision guidance missiles and "smart" bombs opens up the possibility of restricting deadly violence to its proper targets and staying clear of civilian life, limb, and property. Another pressing issue is the fate of women in war in light of mass rapes characteristic of some "new
wars".

Civilian Immunity in War

Edited by Igor Primoratz

Table of Contents

AcknowledgementsNotes on the contributorsIntroductionPart one 1. Civilian immunity in war: its grounds, scope and weight, Igor Primoratz2. Civilians and soldiers, Uwe Steinhoff3. Civilian immunity in war: from Augustine to Vattel, Colm McKeogh4. Civilian immunity in war: legal aspects, David Kretzmer5. Civilian immunity, forcing the choice and collective responsibility, Seumas Miller6. Collateral immunity in war and terrorism, C.A.J. (Tony) CoadyPart two 7. Air power and non-combatant immunity: the road to Dresden, Stephen A. Garrett8. Civilian immunity in the precision-guidance age, Hugh White9. Civilian immunity in the 'new wars', Paul Gilbert10. Women, war and international law, VeroniqueZanetti11. War and the protection of property, Janna Thompson

Civilian Immunity in War

Edited by Igor Primoratz

Author Information

Igor Primoratz is Principal Research Fellow at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics at the University of Melbourne and Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem.